would 87 octane gas hurt the engine??
would 87 octane gas hurt the engine?? with gas prices going through the roof in NC going for $4.00 gal. im thinking about putting in regular gas. Would this hurt the engine??
Launching!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ
You have to think of it like this if there is a 20 cent spread between regualar and premium. you are only spending 2-3dollars more on a full tank of gas. Now is it worth it to save 2 3 bucks a tank and make you engine work harder? thats up to you.
You will have a lot of short term pinging that will
eventually cause the PCM to pull timing. With a
well controlled coolant temp you could tune for
87, I think these motors are marginal (on the high
side) as far as compression ratio for unleaded but
you could make it work I think.
With 6.0 truck heads this would be more livable
perhaps (lower CR on a LS1 block). But that's not
exactly a money saving activity.
You could fill it up, do a short full-envelope logging
drive, and pull out timing based on the observed
max retard histogram. If you do, it would be interesting
to know how much had to be pulled, where, to get a
no-ping 87 tune.
With the FRA I think you will see wide IAT swings and
this will factor into your timing pullout. Might prefer to
work that angle via the IAT adder table, than the main
spark table but it may take more work to distinguish
the IAT from baseline spark tolerance.
eventually cause the PCM to pull timing. With a
well controlled coolant temp you could tune for
87, I think these motors are marginal (on the high
side) as far as compression ratio for unleaded but
you could make it work I think.
With 6.0 truck heads this would be more livable
perhaps (lower CR on a LS1 block). But that's not
exactly a money saving activity.
You could fill it up, do a short full-envelope logging
drive, and pull out timing based on the observed
max retard histogram. If you do, it would be interesting
to know how much had to be pulled, where, to get a
no-ping 87 tune.
With the FRA I think you will see wide IAT swings and
this will factor into your timing pullout. Might prefer to
work that angle via the IAT adder table, than the main
spark table but it may take more work to distinguish
the IAT from baseline spark tolerance.
Maybe it could be simpler than that? If you commit yourself to driving sedately, perhaps the motor wouldnt ping to begin with?
Otherwise jimmyblue is the man when it comes to tuning.
Otherwise jimmyblue is the man when it comes to tuning.
Originally Posted by GuitsBoy
Maybe it could be simpler than that? If you commit yourself to driving sedately, perhaps the motor wouldnt ping to begin with?
Otherwise jimmyblue is the man when it comes to tuning.
Otherwise jimmyblue is the man when it comes to tuning.
Regardless, I think the car would run noticeably worse and wouldn't be worth the hassle for the extra $2-3 per tank.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever
Verdad Gallardo
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Bessemer City NC
Yes, it may "hurt" performance in a sense, but most people(non-enthusiast), if you tell them it's ok to run 87, of course they're gonna do it. For many, 87 may be the best because they don't care about optimal performance, they want to get from point a to point b. So, why spend .20 extra for every gallon if you aren't going to use the added benefits?
Launching!
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Philly
You want to run the LOWEST octane your engine is designed for for maximum power...if your engine is designed for 87, running anything higher is actually reducing performance. The LS1 is designed with higher compression and works best with 93.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,036
Likes: 1
From: Lake Zurich, IL
^^^ the LS1 will run on lower octane fuel.... stock.. 87 is fine if you never plan on getting on it.. or if it's a rental.... 89 is fine for 90% of the cars
KR is only reported/detected when it occurs...
stock LS1 .... normal driving .... 87 is fine
89 is ok
modified (compression) then 9x is neceassry
if you're stock.... then use 87 octane and don't go WOT..
if you'r emodified and want to go WOT .... get a daily driver
KR is only reported/detected when it occurs...
stock LS1 .... normal driving .... 87 is fine
89 is ok
modified (compression) then 9x is neceassry
if you're stock.... then use 87 octane and don't go WOT..
if you'r emodified and want to go WOT .... get a daily driver
running 87 octane on a modified car is possible if the driver is prudent about it(ie light throttle at all times)the lighter the throttle, the less likely the engine will detonate. remember, the knock sensor sequence in the PCM only reacts to detonation, it can do anything to stop it before it starts. if yoiu have acces to a tuner, you can pull some timing advance out to prevent detonation, and that will make it easier on our engine, just don't expect the same WOT performance. when you take out timing to stop detonation due to octane tolerance, you lose power.
FWIW, i just suck it up and continue to pay for premium. it would be more trouble/time/cost for me to tune the car for 87 octane and i'm not prudent when it comes to throttle discipline
.
FWIW, i just suck it up and continue to pay for premium. it would be more trouble/time/cost for me to tune the car for 87 octane and i'm not prudent when it comes to throttle discipline
. 
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 236
Likes: 4
From: Kintnersville, PA
i'm blown so, i gotta run the good stuff....93-94. (Sunoco ultra 94- $3.56 today...ouchy) yuckkkkkk $$$im thinkin if you are stock and runnin 87, you will be in the low octane timming table, therfore actually be making less power, engine will be working harder,....less miles per gallon it will be producing.
soooo its def not worth using crap gas in these engines made for good gas...i think.